Scotland and its History. Before the Romans.

A silver Pictish brooch used to fasten clothing such as cloaks and capes.

The Romans called the Scottish tribes the ‘Picti’ which means “the painted ones”. This is because, in their written accounts, the Romans said that the Scottish tribes decorated their bodies with dyes and paints.

The Roman historian Tacitus also wrote that the Scottish warriors had ‘red hair and large limbs’ and were fierce.

What did people wear?

The clothes the Scottish tribes wore would have been made from natural fabrics such as wool and flax. They also would have made clothes from leather and animal skins, as well as fur from foxes, bears and seals.

Modern archaeologists have found Pictish brooch pins so we know that they would have worn long cloaks to keep them warm. From other finds, we can also tell that they liked wearing jewellery such as necklaces and metal bands worn on the arms called torcs.